On the second day of his visit to China, the 5th (local time), after finishing his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Lee Jae Myung posted on social media a ‘selfie’ taken with President Xi and his wife. He stated that he took the photo with a China-made Xiaomi smartphone that he had been gifted by President Xi last November.

President Lee wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) that day, “Is the image quality clear?” and added, “One selfie with President Xi and his wife, taken with the Xiaomi I was gifted in Gyeongju. Thanks to it, I got a shot of a lifetime.” The photo, shot by President Lee in the smartphone’s ‘selfie mode,’ shows President Lee and the First Lady and President Xi and his wife smiling brightly.

President Lee also posted, “The more we meet in person, the more the Korea-China relationship thaws; going forward, we will communicate more often and cooperate more,” along with an emoji indicating smiling eyes. The photo is presumed to have been taken before or after the banquet for the Korea-China summit held that day at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Earlier, in October last year, President Lee received from President Xi, who paid a state visit to Korea on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a Xiaomi smartphone equipped with a Korea-made display, as well as a brush and inkstone made of jade. President Xi presented First Lady Kim Hea Kyung with a West Lake (Xihu) teacup set. At the time, after looking over the Xiaomi smartphone, President Lee said with a laugh, “Is the communication security solid?” to which President Xi replied, “Check whether there is a backdoor or not,” drawing attention.